How to Dial In "Phase Dance" by Pat Metheny Group - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Phase Dance"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From the group's self-titled debut on ECM, recorded in January 1978 and released in March that year with Lyle Mays, Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb. The album's account says Pat Metheny introduces the main melody on an acoustic guitar and then switches to electric for one of the improvised solos, and that the piece quickly became a signature opener in concert. No source available here names the electric guitar or amp used on the record; Metheny's Gibson ES-175 from the 1970s stands in as a suggestion. Play the solo on the neck pickup with a warm, clean, slightly dark tone and a rounded attack. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Phase Dance" Tone
What guitar did Pat Metheny Group use on "Phase Dance"?
The guitar on "Phase Dance" (released 1978) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-175 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Phase Dance" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Phase Dance" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Phase Dance" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Phase Dance" by Pat Metheny Group are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.